View of Cape Disappointment
and the Mouth of the Columbia River from Chinook PointPhoto by Charles L. Peter, from National Historic Landmarks
collection

Cape Disappointment is a large headland forming the northern portion
of the mouth of the Columbia River, as it opens to the Pacific
Ocean. Most members of the Corps of Discovery arrived in this
area where they were first able to glimpse the ocean on November
15, 1805, and set up a base camp near Chinook
Point. However, Lewis and a small party of men had set out
ahead of the rest of the group the day before and began scouting
for a favorable site for a winter encampment. On November 17th,
Lewis and his party returned from the area of Cape Disappointment
and located Clark's base camp. Lewis was followed by several Chinook
Indians with "roots mats &c. to Sell" and "the principal chief
of the Chinnooks & his family came up to See us this evening"
(DeVoto 1997, 286). Clark then "directed all the men who wished
to see more of the main Ocian to prepare themselves to Set out
with me early on tomorrow morning" (286). This second group proceeded
to Cape Disappointment where Clark, seeing Lewis's name carved
in a tree, carved his own name and the date into the same trunk.
Clark wrote in this journal that his group proceeded:

View from Cape Disappointment
of sand island and Baker Bay, with Chinook Point in the
distancePhoto by Charles L. Peter, from National Historic
Landmarks collection

To the iner extremity of Cape Disapointment passing a nitch
in which there is a Small rock island, a Small Stream falls into
this nitch from a pond which is imediately on the Sea coast passing
through a low isthmus. this Cape is an ellivated circlier [cir-]
cular] point covered with thick timber on the iner Side and open
grassey exposure next to the Sea and rises with a Steep assent
to hight of about 150 or 160 feet above the leavel of the water
this cape as also the Shore both on the Bay & Sea coast is a dark
brown rock. I crossed the neck of Land low and ½ of a mile wide
to the main Ocian, at the foot of a high open hill projecting
into the ocian, and about one mile in Si[r]cumfrance. I assended
this hill which is covered with high corse grass. descended to
the N. of it and camped. [walked] 19 Miles [to-day]." (DeVoto
1997, 287)

The hill he climbed was undoubtedly the present McKenzie Head.
Clark and his party of men returned to the base camp on November
20th. A few days later, the Corps of Discovery decided to investigate
the south side of the Columbia River, and eventually established
Fort Clatsop there as their winter encampment.
Today, Cape Disappointment is also known as an important early
landmark in the navigation of the Pacific Coast, the site of
two well known lighthouses, and the oldest coastal defense installation
in the state of Washington.

The Cape Disappointment Historic District is located two
miles south of Ilwaco, Washington, just north of the Washingon/Oregon
border. From Astoria, Oregon, take Hwy. 101 north across the
Columbia River until you pass Ilwaco and head south. From Washington,
take Hwy. 101 until it meets Hwy. 100 south of Seaville; go
south to Ilwaco and beyond. Cape Disappointment State Park is
located on the cape, and includes a Lewis and Clark Interpretive
Center. The park is open year-round for camping and day use
from 6:30am to 10:pm during the summer, and 6:30am to 4:00pm
in the winter. Call 360-642-3078 or visit Cape Disappointment for more information.